Long time no posty... (I've been in the cellar)

Well it has been quite sometime since I last posted, but I have a valid excuse. I have been firing up the kettle and getting the yeast roused up. My homebrewing is back in full swing baby with 6 beers on tap and 3 in the chamber waiting for their poppets to be popped. I currently have the following on tap and on deck.

1.) Robust Porter
2.) American IPA
3.) Belgian Triple (Ommegang Hennepin Yeast)
4.) Saison DuPont clone (cultured yeast)
5.) Scottish 70 Shilling ale
6.) Spicy Monkey Root beer

On Deck:

1.) Saison DuPont Voex Temps clone
2.) Orval Clone
3.) English ESB

I have been trying to sample some of the newly arrived here in Wisco, but need to gather my posts. One hoppy bastard of an ale that I tried was the Moylan's Hopsickle Ale from Novato, CA. I have visited the brewery many eons ago and was pleasantly surprised to see it on my beer stores shelves. Its probably one of the hoppiest beers I have every had the pleasure of sipping. This Imperial IPA strips the enamel off yer teeth, spanks yer ass and calls you Sally. I recommend it, but only if you are not afraid of the big bad Hummulus Lupus.....

Good Beer and Good Night !
Stefan...
PS> I am off to Vancouver on Monday... Northwest Hops :)

A beer close to home....

When visiting Paris last, my good friend Gilles Legant from Lille, provided me with a special gift. He brought along a beer from my home province of Nord (north-eastern France). The gift was a bottle of L'Angelus (Brasserie a Annoeullin). A pale colored beer with a lively carbonation and subtle nuances of spice and malt. It was an interesting beer that was deemed by Gilles as being the best beer in the world. Well I would not take it that far, but it was interesting. Filtered, somewhat sweet, with a single dimension. It would be a nice beer with a creme' brullee' after dinner in lieu of a cognac. Still what a treat to be able to try something new and rare. To me that is the quest of the beer geek...new and never sampled by your own lips.

Give my best to your cellar and friends....

Good night and good beer !

Stefan

The Keizer's Birthday

Well it has been awhile since I last posted. Children, travel, winter malaise and just an overwhelming amount of work at the office. However on February 24th, I try and celebrate the Keizer's (Charles the 5th) birthday with a special Cuvée van de Keizer Blauw from Het Anker. It is a wonderful light and powerful beer that works well with a hunk of Swiss Gruyere and some toasted walnuts. It also helps to listen to some Tom Waits while you nibble and sip. There was a sighting of this elegant and rare beasty on tap at the Malt House (it was also Bill Roger's birthday). Stay tuned for next year when the bash gets a little more bold and baudy on the 24th. Mark your calendar all you beer knurds for next year (Feb 24th 2009)

Blessings and Good Beer !

Stefan

Father Christmas got stuck in the cellar....

I love going down to the cellar to see what is hidden or has made itself camoflauged into the bottles and what not over the years. I came across a bottle of Pere Noel from Browerij De Ranke, a favorite of mine. So I decided to free it from its cellar dwelling and it's paper wrapping to meet my tastebuds. Brouwerij De Ranke appeals to me in the fact that they are not afraid of the Humulus Lupus (Hop), pushing the far reaches of bittering units on the Belgian side of things. Pere Noel provides some firm bitterness with a nice yeast flavor that matches well with the malt spectrum in the beer. It has a slight fruityness that really works well with the hop flavor and aroma. Its dangerously drinkable and better to be shared with a friend over a good conversation and frites. Again I hope that your cellar is full and that your new year is going well.

Bon Bier et Bon Nuit (I am posting from Paris...so when in Rome)

Stefan

Little Flemish Fishing boats....

De Struise Brewers (De Struise Brouwers) always amaze me and their dedication to the art of beer is something that falls upon me like great painters dedication canvas. Carlo and Urbain are two of four that create some of the most amazing beers I have had in a long time. I had the pleasure of sampling a Pannepot (little Flemish fishing boats) from 2007 that was quite unique. It was a lively beer, heavy with fruits and a friendly sourness (gentle) that graced the palate. I have heard a lot about this beer from beer geeks around the globe. When my local beer store (Steve's) had some on the shelf, I could not resist even with this economic rescession... This beer has something that a lot of breweries throught the world strive for but often come up short...that component is depth. It has as many layers as a 5 lbs onion and an aroma that beckons a second sniff. If you see the Pannepot on your shelf or better yet the grand reserve Pannepot, treat yourself to something that only a few can say that they have tried. You deserve it...you are a beer geek...

Good Night and Good Beer !

Asahi beer and Sumo

Well I appologize for not posting as of late, but I have been on fly traveling to China, Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Not too much for beer in these here parts, but it did not stop me from trying. I was able to find Duvel and Delerium Tremens in Taichung, Taiwan and drank my share of Duvel's in neon glow of Hong Kong. But my most memorable experience was grabbing some Japanese Asahi's at Tokyo Narita airport while waiting for my plane back home. I sat with a couple of cold Asahi's and watched Japan's most time honored sport of Sumo wrestling. It was a time of reflection, awe and my thrist was quenched at the same time ! I think the craft beer movement is arriving as Asia is now looking at beer in a different way than before. The pale lagers made with rice have their place, but the Belgian's have just dropped anchor and are on their way. Stay tuned from more travel updates as I am on my way to Paris next week. Hmmm if I could only remember that place on Rue de Montparnesse....

Good Night and Good Beer

Eis Eis Baby Eis Eis-Bock !!

Well its cold outside again and its time to brew up a German Dopplebock and put it into the deep freeze. Here in the Sconie Nort, the deep freeze is the back porch. Eis-bock is an interesting beast that actually happened by accident and led to a wonderful sipper. As the story goes the young brewing apprentice of a small brewery in Einbeck, Germany, left a barrel outside on a cold night. Well one can guess what happens to water (main ingredient in beer) when you leave it out in the cold....it froze. Well the brewmaster was none to pleased to find out what had happened and ordered the young lad to disassemble the barrel and clean up his mess. Well after picking away at the frozen mess, the young apprentice stumbled onto some sweet rich drippings from the center of the icy mass. Talk about getting to the center of a "Tootsie Pop" ! Well I guess he tasted this sublime liquid and called the brewmaster over and proclaimed gold. This may all be a wonderful yarn spun over the course of history to polish the simple thought of fractional distillation, but I like the story.
I was fortunate enough to sample a bottle of Schneider and Sohn's Aventinus Eis-Bock the other day (a rare treat in these here parts). It pours murky with a huge malt aroma and lacy head. Its thick and viscous like a port and tastes as rich as it looks. Its a sipper and of course it must be served in the proper glass (very important for me). If you find a bottle or even on tap (sometimes it happens) sit down forget your worries for the time being and enjoy what some say was the greatest accident since fire.
Good Night and Good Beer !
(I am off to Asia in search of a Chinese stout)